Into a new act

Before it gets too late, this blogging once again had to be commenced.

So here we go.
It will be a space where I share the progression and expression of something.. Hopefully this leads me to learn more.

I have not decided where to begin and what to write about:
interesting articles with comments, skills, ideas on what...?

Sports, Soccer, Macroeconomics, Coffee, Restaurants.. lol
or just random things?

One thing for sure, no procrastination when I know what to write!

And, not End

Time really flies fast. What a cliche for the last blog.
I heard that time goes faster by geometric progression of you age. That is so true, I do not remember how I spent my time during this semester.  It was hot. Now it is freezing.

This semester was my 3rd semester in both in American and America :)  This class may be one of the easy, fun classes for you, native American.  For me, this was one of the hardest classes.  I wanted to say something, but the words coming out of my damn mouth were not what I exactly meant.  The phrase created by my fingertips went wrong way.  I know that you had hard time understanding me.  Same here, my words confused me, too.  I have become smaller and smaller.

My goal for this semester was to become an American student in the class, not an international student.  I do not appreciate special care for international students.  I just wanted to be same as others because I am here to learn more.  If I get special excuse, that would not help me grow and learn more.  Anyhow, I failed becoming an American student.  It was not because of classmates or professor.  It was rather me.  I was not confident and not fully involved in every class.  I was an outsider, who I abhorred.  

However, this was a very fun, interesting class.  Every single classmate was warm and nice to one another(thank you, guys!), took care of each other, and were enthusiastic.  Every class was full of  laugh and smile.  How delight!  Although I was not sure about myself being a good student, the atmosphere of the class relaxed me and entertained me.  I was just happy that I was there with other smart student.

I experienced American culture of participation, expression, and discussion.  American know how to say what they think and what they want to convey.  To be honest, there are some people who just talked without thinking(who are annoying), but the majority of time was productive. The fact that there are incredibly a lot of communication between professor-student and student-student amazed me.  

I saw the real social networking in the class, although we mainly focused on online social networking.

Although the semester ends and there will be no more class with the exact same people.  But, that is not "end," it is rather "and" because we are going to see each other on campus and say hello or see in other classes.

+) It is quite frustrating that I thought like that about myself.  But I am not depressed.  Instead, I am glad that I found myself in different circumstance.  Yes, it is not the end of myself.  There will be "AND."

Sharing valuable info to expand social networking!

When I was in Korea, the most expensive building called Tower Palace had been constructed by Samsung near home.  It is the hybrid, luxurious residence of apartment and hotel.  Since TP is one of the most expensive residence in Korea, it has drown attention from media and other people.  I lived closed to TP and  I have some friends living there.  One of them has told me the  interesting social networking stuff within the residents.  I don't know where it is or how do they access, but they do have their own social networking site for TP residents. 

When I read  the article from fatdoor, I came up with the idea of "neighborhood social networking."  Also, within that social networking, moms having high school students share information about extra curricular activities, especially hakwon where students study after regular school.  That is, the neighborhood social networking functions as a kind-of-education social networking.

 I thought it was surprising and  I wish my neighbor could have that kind of social networking sites.  I would use it alot and it would be useful in terms of new updates in neighborhood such as the new restaurant or the accidents updates.

And the service like Razoo.com, which looks like the expanded version of Facebook group, is providing would flourish social networking well because the more clear, better information can be shared within the interest group who joined a certain group in Razoo.com and share/compare other information to similar groups in Razoo.  

Well, if the service offered by Razoo is implemented to the normal social networking site, that would be better though...

 

To see is to believe

I have been having fun uploading fun videos from youtube.com. Adding video clip in contents helps a lot understanding the concepts and make it simple as well when there is a perfect video. To see is to believe. Sometimes one video is much better than long long mundane texts/words. And many times the videos from youtube Moreover, it takes less time, but much more effective. The most popular UGC site youtube shows that well. It is much simpler and more effective. Just Easy.

I could understand that a author of Death to User Generated Contents say that the term UGC is not new and horrible. That author says "So what's user-generated content? Junkies robotically filling boxes with packing peanuts. Lovely." 

But I disagree with the author because most of the creator of the video are not junkie. For example, I have a friend who can edit video and I saw her making friend's birthday celebration video as a present.  That video is very unique present and very special. She is not a junkie. Not even her, I know many people who likes youtube and upload fun videos. They are just normal college kids.  

Also, I found video resumes on youtube.  (Here is the one I found interesting because he tried to show his every abilities with the news format) It entertains the audiences and even proves that what a candidate can do.  So, UGC is not just a jucki's robotically filling boxes with packing peanuts.  It means something and it has intentions.

For example, the article Photos: YouTubers spoof and mock tech brands shows clearly that what the creators try to demonstrate in the video. I really enjoyed every video clips and I already saw the many different youtube version of Mac vs. PC.  And the video I found while searching them again, I found the one I liked most. "Computer Sucks" featured with South Park. This video kicks both Mac and PC's ass. I really liked because this is soooo true.

See? UGC is so great to convey the idea simply and instantly.

Online campaign works well?

I guess I talked about Korean presidential candidates' blog in cyworld. And the presidential elections is only almost 40 days away from now(I can vote right after when I get Seoul, Korea). I am so excited that I can vote for something, which means that I am an adult living in democratic world? haha and I had never voted for anybody so far although I could have voted since 2004. So this is the good time to recap what the presidential candidates did for the country, organizations they joined, parties they are with/in.

I haven't got to the point that I can compare each American politicians online. Well, especially AU where the school is popular/notorious?/famous/ for its high political interests among students I could overheard that what American politicians are doing, however, differently, I had no chance to hear about their online community or blog. So I just looked them up this time through How the Facebook change the Politics? by Pickled Politics.  Those all were interesting because I could find the similarities of the candidates' blogs that the candidates put their opinions much freely and frequently/anytime they want.  The public has an access to it and can get to know the politicians in terms of personality, political opinions, and the party's directions in campaigns. Because social networking site is EASY to everybody, it has been worked well. And the rate of using online social networking will be increasing. No doubt.

However, still there is one big problem.  

As online Activism: the Media Stereotypes and the Rise of Smart mobs by Robin Good indicated, the online campaign has been work well and strong enough to persuade?/influence people.  Yes it is good.  But, who are using Internet all the time and who are trying to find the interesting stuffs more and more frequently?  It is the young people. 

Since the young people don't usually judge the situation well in terms of politics (no offense here), their mis-judgement did hurt the whole organization.  For example, the current Korean president Roh, Mu Hyun got attention and credits from the college students, who just got their rights to vote.  At that time, the conservative old people didn't in favor of Roh because of his promises, campaign platform, background and so forth.  Well, I don't know exact reasons, but he wasn't leading candidate and nobody expected him to win the election.  The big reason that he got is online community among young people.  Apparently, the current Korean president's reputation has been fell on the ground long time ago, which means that the majority of Korean people doesn't like him. The rate of the favor of him is actually lower than that of the actual vote during the elections.  The further information/expression would be very biased. haha. anyhow, he didn't do well during his term like hurting diplomatic relationships.  So, this is kinda a hope  that the other one could do better than him. Also, if the young people weren't influenced well the other can be elected...

ok anyway, online campaign seems very strong. :)

p.s I am adding the funny video of Korean president Roh I found on youtube.

Network, or not work?

Network, or Not work?? well,,, it is true... but..

This is what my professor from Advanced Career Development  said last time when we talked about networking and referral.  Yea, who you know would be very crucial to find a job or start a career like 6 degrees of recruitment by Nikhil Menon from The Economic Times india and  Using Social Networking to Fill the Talent Acquisition Pipeline by Fay Hansen from Work Force Management said.  Both agree that networking works well in recruiting in terms of quality and price.  Because it is more accountable and cheaper actually (is what they say).  It is a good news for job seeking seniors that there is a better way with high probability.  However, this benefit applies when one has a good network.   What if one doesn't have any network like me and one seek for job? Then, I'd better be a better, outstanding candidate with unique resume attracting hiring manager's attention.  It doesn't mean that one without network cannot find a job or career opportunity.  It is just hard for one.  Otherwise, it is just a little(maybe big) advantage for another with good connection.  

However, getting an offer or referral doesn't confirm you a job because 1) you have to be at least more than average to be referred.  Otherwise, a referrer wouldn't recommend you to a certain person because a bad candidate can ruin all the relationship and reputation of the referrer.  2) And also one or more referral doesn't secure a position.  After your resume is passed to hiring manger with your referrer's name, you still have to have sufficient qualities as the job  or position requires.  A company or a person from that company wouldn't hire you if you are not good enough to fill out the position.  So, network doesn't do everything for you.  3) Moreover, you had to do your homework by yourself as well such as making a good resume and cover letter as researching the company and the position you are applying.   If you are not ready to be referred, the whole network is meaningless. 

And both article pointed that online networking site and referrals are very useful in filling the senior level position.  So, for now for us as a entry level position seeker, it would be better to focus more on basic requirement we have to do.  I am not saying network is useless.  Network is good and useful when you are fully ready.

p.s.  Since network is still important later, it is good to learn how to network from "how not to network" video.  There are 5 more "how not to network" series at YouTube.  

A nerve, there we go, you got a network.

It is very controversial that online professional networking site are worthy.   Two articles supports totally different sides about job seeking in online professional networking site like LinkedIn: "Search for a name and these profiles generally show up in a search engine's top 10. This is a low-stress way to control your image and, incidentally, make yourself a passive job seeker (It's not just who you know by David Lidsky) and "applying networking skills is truly the way to an active, productive job search" (Networking for students by Priscilla March). But both still admit that it is a convenient, useful tool when you use it properly. 

Yea, that's the problem.  To what extent it could you PROPER?  Who knows? everybody is different... thinks differently.

Well, in my opinion, if you want to expand/discover your network through online professional social networking site, you would have to be a nerve unless you know somebody veryveryveryvery well.  

Ok. For example, can you add your professors of currently taking courses at LinkedIn or Ziggs? Ummm, this might be a hardcore.  The reason I found out LinkedIn was that I googled my one of my previous professors a while ago.  And I figured out that whenever I googled a name, Linkedin was one of almost top 5 results.  I joined LinkedIn made account.  But I couldn't ask them to accept my request, no I never requested it.  Although the person I wanted to add and I  knew each other and I was a good student(really? haha) it is never easy to ask. Another instance,  I interned at AU athletics last summer and I found my boss(director of marketing, promotion, and sales) at LinkedIn.  I could haven't send him a request for a long time after I knew that he had used it (to be really honest, everybody like me!! and I worked hard!!! no kidding!! I worked overtime.... without getting paid!!!).  I was a bit scared what if they think that I am using them for getting a job or something like this.  It could be a guilty conscience, but if it really happens I would destroy the good relationships.  And what if I asked them in person(not online) and they rejected it... It could hurt the relationships.

You can add your close co-workers there, but what about other people working at the same place, not from the same team but just same company or neighbor teams, can they be a network? So hard to define "network" itself.  

I am still confused and don't know how to use.  Ah, yea I am not still out there in the  competitive job market.  But still, it seems to be hard after I graduate the college.  I hope there is a specific situational tutorial in using those sites.  To be honest, the stuffs in Networking for Students aren't new.

analog and digital/virtual team and technology

There is always a dilemma between analog and digital.

(Analog meaning old-school like meeting in person,  digital meaning technology-included virtual team)

Just simply, what is better? having original copies of photos or having electronic copies of them? I experienced my hardware crush and lost all the invaluable electronic data. I couldn't do nothing, but sit there with glassy eyes.

If I possessed them with hard copies, I wouldn't happen unless I had a fire.

However, this doesn't mean that I had to have hard copies instead of digital photos. Since the more advanced digital era is an inevitable change, it would be ideal to have plan B in case of system crush.  Technology is crucial now.

Back to the virtual team, 

Both article Teamwork, super charged in Business week and working together... when apart by Lynda Gratton  talk about how to be the effective virtual team.  In some of the facts, both say that well-made technology supports the successful virtual team.  It really is hard to bring to a successful virtual team without good technology because virtual team doesn't mean anything without technology and it is not a physical meeting and interaction.  For instance, when I was in Korea(I went to Women's university), we had so many group presentation and it was so hard to set a time for meeting for every 6~7 member. So what we usually did was separating the part voluntarily, researching the given part, and uploaded to the school's club homepage or cyworld club(it is like a google group).  Or we tried to meet online MSN messenger to discuss something.  Would this work well?   Hell no!!! Every time I do my group project in this way, there were people doing in late and being confused about what it has to be.  My conclusion for this was NEVER EFFECTIVE. 

Kind of advanced version of technology is wikidot.com. I used this in the ITEC-200 the edge of information technology class last semester for the first time.  For the group project we used this under professor's help.  It worked better when we collaborate many different ideas.  However, after all, when we made a real powerpoint and prepare the rehearsal and presentation, it was better to meet in person and had a physical meeting.  Well, anyway, from my experience, I believe that technology have been advanced and there will be a better/best technology supporting virtual team eventually. But it has to lead virtual team members overcome the downsides of physical separation and interaction or it has to make people feel that they are really work together in the same place.

Still, 

As Teamwork, super charged from BusinessWeek  pointed, it seems that it is better to have a physical team for me...

Am I too conservative and not innovative? 

Internet and Anonymity

I believe that every human has an evil side in his/her mind.   And one shows that when nobody is watching him/her.  It is same on the Internet like Seth Godin said in his article.  Fraud in ebay and Vandalism is Wikipedia are the examples of that.  When you just see these kinds of activities, it seems that we have to make the Internet without anonymity in order to make it clean.  

But still, online auction is still going on between anonymous sellers and buyers like Rheingold said in Smartmobs.  And many users have trusted on line and did good job in the anonymous world.

Also,  I understand that Internet's anonymity has made web activities more active and different from reality.   I've seen many people show their different personalities in the web or their blog.  Especially, for those of people who are introverted and very shy the Internet has done a good job introducing the whole new world and attracting them to participate and show more of their reactions.  Well, this is not applied to every shy person, but it is better for them to face computer screen than to face the person.

What could be the better idea? well, with all the same information about us, it will the duplicated world of reality. But then, we are still gonna have the same problems related to anonymity.  

My opinion is that we can make higher access for something important websites. Or we can make people to use the very accurate, real information to join the community or websites. But after that, make them use anonymous name in there, so that everybody can't see who one are, but when one did a bad thing, like a cyber police can find out to accuse one.   Well, it may raise more security problems as well.  It is so complicated and it is too late to return to the back.

What do you think?

who get the best information?

I had my computer broken last winter break while I went back home.  I lost 5 years of works including powerpoint files and photos.  I was kinda obsessed with powerpoints and photos because I did a lot of works with corporations(like a project and sometimes intern) and taking pics was my big hobby.  Seriously, I yelled at my young brother(it wasn't his fault, it was because of the guy from the computer fixing office that he did the stupid things--he cleaned up the whole HDD)  and eventually cried...  I lost all the portfolios... after I entered the university.  I felt like I was nothing without that.  But I calmed down myself thinking 'it is the past, I can even be more creative without past works.'   And there wasn't the way to revive them.  I told myself 'ok, fine.  There is no way I can do now, so forget about it!' I felt better after that.

(even still I don't want to remind me of that awful event, it is ten times worse than the combination of losing all the phone number after you graduates, kicking out of the facebook account, losing de.licio.us and LinkedIn account, and losing a $10000.  

HOWEVER, all of sudden, I thought of the star, which presented the favorites (websites).  My home desktop's OS is windows, so yellow star sign means the Favorites.  I almost cried that I realized that I lost all the websites and blogs I marked.  Can you imagine that? I was so pissed that I really wanted to kill the computer fixing guy.  (He saved his life from not meeting me at home).   

Bookmarking someone's blog is the shortcut to get good information.  Too many data are out there.  It takes more time to find what you exactly want.  Although every portal sites have been tried to develop the better search engine, it is now perfect yet.  So when you find a good blogger with the same interest like you.  You are saving tons of money because time is money.  Especially the blogger did a good job, then you don't even worry about getting new info.  That blogger is going to keep you updated.  After that, when you find another one, the pleasure and results double.

Social bookmarking/social news/tagging/etc seem all about the better/best information in the data web where you can't see the end.  Exploring Internet means wasting you time.  I better find string(website) so that you can be pulled(get good info).  what would be the other purpose of the whole work of social bookmarking?   Anything better. Yea. that's it.  There is too much useless information now.  

But, bookmarking might produce useless information.  For instance, badly tagged or bookmarked pages can mislead the data search; those kind of thing could be even worse that just one datum.  It is because not every blogger is smart and careful.  Social bookmarking has let the Internet surfer get what they want.  But also, it could mislead them to the wrong place.

coward MS? wise MS?

When you google "corporate blog", you can see tons of results including some commercial corporate-blogging companies--which help corporations to blog.  People are debating about corporate blogging whether it is good for the firm .  It's fun to see both sides in one magazine(Global PR blog week) at the same time: Why CEOs shouldn't blog?, Why CEOs should blog? Both basically say that the blogging helps communicating with customers. Difference between two articles is who blogs.  Blogging is not a fad anymore.  Anyhow, it seems that most firms and customers prefer to blog for themselves and customers.

I read the Microsoft's successful blogging stories from naked conversation and bloggers send a warning shot to corporate America.  Both stories are about Robert Scoble, the former employee of Microsoft and the co-author of Naked Conversation.  It was so good for Microsoft to choose him to talk about Microsoft in his blog.  But he left the company and he is still blogging with the same url.  Now he just said a few days ago that how fun it was at the Apple Store.  Is that still good for Microsoft?? 

Also, Microsoft only has one official Internet Explore blog explaining about the functions not having used so much, SP2, ControlX, and etc.  It seems boring and IT IS boring.  It is like a Internet Explore manual nobody uses.  Why don't Microsoft do the same thing they did with another Rob Scoble?  

Ok. then, check this out The unauthorized Microsoft Weblog. This guy Jason have done a good job giving good information to visitors about Microsoft Windows stuffs.  Why can't MS do like this?  I absolutely believe that MS can do the better job on this.  Is blogging too much for the huge info tech companies?  Is that because MS is worried about all the Window users come to there blog and say bad thing about MS?  or is that an wise action for MS not to blog so that they can avoid miscellaneous conflicts and problems because they have more major stuffs to care about??

Well,

All the smart kids can enter MS.  I hope they figure out soon how to change their business wisely through blogging or the better way.  But I don't even imagine what it could be.

p.s   whenever I try to work on my laptop for a long time in the library, I ALWAYS forget to bring the adapter.... so stupid... 

Don't bother me!!!!!!!!!!! please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I missed the last class because I went to NY finance trip with Kogod!!! 

It was kinda intense and sorta productive. I am totally exhausted after this trip.

Since my father had a business trip to florida, I had to meet him right after the trip (no time to go to MoMa!!! it was my 5th visit and everytime I tried to go to MoMa, I failed for some reasons)

Anyway, dad and I stopped by alot of car dealershops to buy a car over this weekend(he's snoring now..). Our first visited site was Honda, I testdrove on car.  For a test drive, a salesman asked me my number and DL. I thought he will make me annoying by calling me to push me to buy a car.. well it was not like that.

When I was in like....um....3rd, 4thish dealershop (2hours later), I got a call with the number starting 888-***-****. I pick it up. It was a Honda customer service in order to do the survey. I was talking to another salesman and helping my dad to understand what the conditions are, etc.  Imagine that sales guy talk to a guy. A guy do not understand fully. A guys daughter as an assistance is doing nothing but talking on the phone and say the random things. I tried to hang it up asap. It lasts 5 mins.  5mins could be long or short time.  But at that situation  it was long. So, on the question "does salesman give you the number after you test drive?" I couldn't remember because I had visited other places and I couldn't remember the exact number. So profound that I can't focus on this conversation with the other dealer and dad.  I tried to finish the conversation, "yeayea it was good good". She said "thank you, blah blah blah." oh yeeeassss! it's over!! yay!!!

Um, a phone survey can get the fastest response anytime. But the result of survey can't be accurate.  CRM, customer support sound good even to me until I reacted like that to the customer center. Could there be some other not-annoyable, accurate way to study people/customers? is that the best way for now? I don't know yet because I just don't want to be bothered.

be yourself-the best way to blog

The blog is the representative of one online where more people participate and sometimes better conversations have been made.  The authors of naked conversations, Scoble and Israel demonstrate that the interaction online between corporate and other constituencies is becoming important and even more essential.  I am agree with that because most people use the Internet everyday and get information from it.

To describe, nowadays, politicians are like corporations.  They advertise and promote themselves through blogging.  For example, two major presidential candidates in South Korea, Myungbak Lee(www.cyworld.com/mbitious) and Geunhye Park(www.cyworld.com/ghism) from Hannara party, a nongovernment party, have been renowned for their blog.  More than 1000 people visit their blog daily and show supports or sometimes antagonism.  They upload their campaign pledges with reasonings, personal photos with explanations, hobbies, and press released from other media.  They are blogposting to tell the truth about themselves, which is to tell the truth (kind of), which is the first Corporate Weblog Manifesto qtd. in Naked Conversation(191-194).   At the blog, they show that they are as same as other common citizens so that electors can feel comfortable with them.  

I sometimes visit their blog to see what is going on.  Whenever I go their blog it is so interesting because they show the old pictures of theirs with sense of humor.  Without blog technologies, it's impossible to see politicians from the different perspectives, the aspect of human. With this grateful technologies, they've been doing a good job in attracting people because they have been themselves in their blog.

p.s

They've used Cyworld, which is the most popular social networking website.

here's some quotes from Business 2.0, 

-Cyworld, for example, is a social network owned by a subsidiary of SK Telecom, the country's largest wireless provider. To an American eye, the Cyworld service looks like a mixture of some of the hottest US properties: it's MySpace meets Flickr and Blogger and AIM and Second Life.

- Users have avatars that visit and can link to each other's "minihompy" - a miniature homepage that's actually a 3-D room containing a users' blog, photos, and virtual items for sale. Cyworld's digital garage sales include music, ringtones, clothes for your avatar and furnishings for your own minihompy.

- Cyworld has penetration rates that would make Rupert Murdoch, CEO of MySpace parent News Corp, green with envy: An astonishing 90% of South Koreans in their 20s use the service. Celebrities and politicians set up their own minihompies, and the way to get ahead in twentysomething Korean society is to found a popular Cyworld club, or chat room.

(http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/2006/06/16/the_future_is_in_south_korea.html)

*Naked Conversations; How blogs Are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers. (2006) by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel

Trust based network works

At the IT Conversation from MeshForum, Dr. Karen Stephenson talked about social network analysis.  The one thing I can't forget is about transactional network vs. trust based network.  I can't agree with her more in terms of trust-based network, which is the better network.

There must be tons of examples, but I've got a simple one.

I have never detached from group project since my college life as an business major student began.  Let's say a professor makes the group to work on the project together.  The purpose of this teams is transactional.  This team will discuss project and communicate with one another.  There are many measurable transactions including phone calls, emails, and meetings.  They interact so much. However, once the project is done, there is no transaction and communication usually.  Of course, I do experience those situations. I don't usually communicate with project teams unless we are friends before. On the other hand, there is a group of random people who hang out, eat out together, talk on the phone, and discuss personal stuffs.  These highlight the trust-based network.  In terms of the degrees of communication and interaction during the project, transactional network can be higher than trust based one.  But, trust based one is stronger and lasts longer.  

what's good network and how do we build it?

The middle of the Maslow's hierarchy of needs is "Love and belonging needs", the need for belonging, to reveive and give love, appreciation, friendship, which can be referred as network because the nature of the network is this need, I believe. Also, human is social animal. Humans have gathered and lived together interacting one another since a long, long, long time ago. So, it surprised me because most the readings about informal network assigned to the class sound very very formal, academic, and serious. Even in the Six Myths about Informal Networks* - and How to Overcome Them published by MIT Sloan, the authors show how to read a network diagram. But it seems hard to analyze with that example diagrams and explanations. 

So, I've got a good test to rate my network.

You can test yours right now! bring a piece of paper and pen! Ready? Here's the test**.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rate yourself on a scale of 1-5

(1=never; 2=occasionally; 3=regularly; 4=frequently; 5=always)

Know your own power as a networker

1. I know the values and principles that are important in my life

2. I can list five major accomplishments that I am proud of in my life

3. I have a written list of long and short term goals that I review and revise regularly

Be gracious and courteous as you network

4. I introduce myself in a way what is clear, concise, personable and generates interest

5. I reintroduce myself to people rather than waiting for them to remember me

6. I focus on people as they are introduced to me so that I remember their name and who they are (or their profession, connection to the field, etc.)

Handle business cards with respect/nurture your network

7. I make notations on business cards that I receive as memory joggers and follow-up reminders

8. I nurture my network with calls, notes, emails and gifts in a timely and appropriate manner

9. I graciously receive and accept acknowledgement and support

Manage yourself as a resource

10. My business card file is organized and up to date

11. I use my time management system effectively

12. I return phone calls and/or emails within 24 hours

Develop a personal networking approach

13. I am a member of professional organization(s), serve on a committee or volunteer in the community

14. I regularly give referrals to and make request of my work

15. I operate with integrity and professionalism in all my interactions and endeavors

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

All done?

then, now you can check how good your network is/how good you are as a networker.

65-75: powerful

55-64: effective

45-54:resourceful

30-44: branch out

20-29: timid

below 20: long ranger

I've got 66, which is powerful!!!!!

Okay, but this is not just about the score. This test points out some practical tips as well as A Practical Guide to Social Networks*** published by Harvard Business Review.  

With thinking reversely from the test, if I do these, my network will be improved.

• think of myself, what I've done, and what I've pursued in order to know the values, principles, and my goals
  
• come talk to new people first
  
• remember people's name/profession/etc
  
• communicate and interact with people afterwards
  
• get involved in the group or community
  

This is more practical to me to build good networks.  I'd better start to elaborate my network with these principles instead of trying to make new friends as much as possible, which I do usually. 

* Rob Cross, Nitin Nohria, and Andrew Parker, Six Myths About Informal Networks - and How To Overcome Them Published by MIT Sloan Management Review, Spring 2002

** Adapted from Power Networking 59 Secrets for Personal & Professional Success by Donna Fisher & Sandy Vilas. Copyright 2002

*** Rob Cross, Jeanne Liedtka, and Leigh Weiss, A Practical Guide to Social Networks published by Harvard Business Review, May 2005

Social Capital

The evaluation of human in the organization has been evolved from labor through human resources to human capital.  Since the human capital has been valued, the relationships of them have been studied 
by many people such as Rob Cross and Laurence Prusak, 
the authors of  "The People Who Make Organizations Go-or Stop" at Harvard Business Review in 2002.  Now, the networking among people is not just a relationship or a network, it is the social capital.

They distinguish types in social capital based on the role in the organization: central connectors, spotting boundary spanner, information broker, peripheral specialists.  In their review, they all value these four types of people high with mentioning possible problems.

Anyhow, how it works?
"Saguaro about Social Capital"  (http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/saguaro/primer.htm) says that works in many ways: information flow, norma of reciprocity, collective actions, broader identity and solidarity.
Almost every action and every reaction of one entity is relevant to social capital.  

Then, among four types, who is the most wanted?
- central connectors links people inside the group, so organizations would need them
- boundary spanner connects other part of the organization, so orgs would  need them, too
- information broker communicate across the sub groups, so orgs want them as well
- also, peripheral specialists are specialized expertises, of course, orgs need them.
Then, all are needed for organizations. It differs from one's personality and specialization.


So far, it seems that many expertises tried so hard to find ways to make organization more efficient and effective.  They are even caring so much about informal network.  But all these studies took the management viewpoint from the organization.

Even informal network has been used by organization management.  And it seems that employers judge their ability or value through identifying each social capital and the role inside (they sometimes give intensives or higher salaries for some people because of their role in the org).  Therefore, we can't just neglect the role of informal network.

Then, what do we do for a successful social network??
From the member of the organization's point of view, how we could make OUR organization better?

In my opinion, it is all about leadership.  Leadership is not just for the leader.  The one's own way of working with pride in their work gives one leadership.  Sometimes leadership is followed by the pride and confidence.  Leadership is about being independence and communicating with people at the same time.  
There will be better answerS for this "what do we do for a successful social network?"


Although I also value the social network, today's  lives are so intense.  
We can't just let it go...

Yo! Welcome to Allie 's blog!!

I am a student from American University with the concentration of ITEC.
This is orginally for my "Social Networking" class for 2007 fall, but I may use this for my personal page as well. Also, "On my honor, all posts on this blog are my own."

Thank you for coming to my humble blog!! :)